Venetian blind



July 23, 1940e M. J. NARDULLI VENETIAN BLIND Filed March 20, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet l Rue/@for Mza/mei cf/Vardull July 23, 1940.

Filed March 20, 1939 M. J. NARDULLI VENETIAN BLIND 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented July'23, 1940 UNITED STATES A PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLINDMichael J. Nardulli, Chicago, lll. Application .March 20, 1939, SerialNo. 262,872

12 Claims.

The invention relates generally to Venetian blinds.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved Venetian blind 5.. wherein both the tilting and raising andlowering functions are performed by a single self-locking gearing devicewhich serves in addition as one of the supporting members for the blind,

which blind is readily removable from its supportlo ing means forcleaning purposes and the like,

and which is so constructed that the various parts are of a simple andinexpensive character.

Another object is to pr'ovide such a new and -improved Venetian blindwherein the single ac- 15 tuatngmeans for attaining the tilting andraising and lowering functions is of such a character as to provide foreasy and nely graduated adjustment of the blind both as to elevation andtilted position, as well as quiet and uniform action of zo the blind atall times.

A further object is to provide such a blind which is so constructed asto prevent undue wear upon the elevating cords as Well as theSlat-supporting tapes. f

-mother object is to provide a new and improved mounting for supportingthe ladder-tapes upon the transverse upper member of the blind.

' Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription, taken in 30` connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is an inside elevational view of a Venetian blind embodying thefeatures of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along 35 the line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

y Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective view showing the manner in whichthe ladder tapes are associated with the supporting and actuating means.

Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig.

1 showing the slats in the outwardly facing rela-- tion assumed duringlowering of the blind.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and showing the slats tilted to theirhorizontal or fully open positions.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and showing the slats in thesubstantially inwardly facing relation assumed during elevation of theblind.

For purposes of disclosure I have illustrated in the drawing, and willhereinafter describe in del tail the preferred embodiment of theinvention,

with the understanding that I do not intend to limit my invention to theparticular construction and arrangement shown, it being contemplatedthat various changes may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In the form chosen for disclosure herein, the invention is embodied in'a Venetian blind III 54 (Fig. 1) operatively mounted in a window frameII having side frame members I2 and I3, a top frame member I4 and a sillI5. The blind I0, in the form illustrated, comprises a plurality ofelongated thin slats I6 which may be of conven- 10 tional width,thickness, material and finish, normally suspended in vertically spaced,parallel relation to each other by means sof conventional ladder-tapesI1 which are spaced laterally from each other and are operativelyassociated at their l5 upper ends with a tiltable operatingl yorsupporting means 20.

At their -lower ends, the tapes I1 are conventionally xed as by tacks 2I(Fig. 5) to a relatively heavy toe rail 22.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to V'7, each ladder-tape Il is made fromflexible woven fabric, and cornprises an inner band Il' and an outerband Il." connected by ladder cross rung elements 23. and

23" formed from fabric and adapted to support 2,5.

the slats I6 in the desired spaced relation. 'Ihe ladder cross rungs 23'and 23" are relatively narrow, as shown in Fig. 4, and are arranged sothat all of 'the cross rungs 23' are located adjacent to the left handside of the tape I'I, and alternate 30 with the cross rungs 23" whichare located adjacent to the right hand edge of the tape. Thus there isprovided within the tapes II a vertical passage through which elevatingcords 25 may pass from the toe rail 22 to the supporting mem- 35 ber 20,there being suitable slots 26 formed in the slats I6 within the tapes toprovide a clear passage for the elevating cords 25. v A

In a blind of this character it is desirable to provide for tiltingthe'slats in either direction from 40 the horizontal or fully openposition of Figs. 1

and 6, such tilting being to and in some instances past the outwardlyfacing position of Fig. 5, or to and beyond theinwardly facing positionof Fig. 7.

In addition, it lis desirable that provision be made for raising andlowering the blind, and in accordance with the present invention, boththe tilting and raising and lowering functions are accomplished throughmanipulation of the supporting means 2l). In attaining such functioningof the' supporting means 20 the present invention provides for finelygraduated adjustment of the l tilted positions of the slats, as well asvthe elevation of the blind, and such .adjustment is attained 55 bymeans which is simple in structure and positive, smooth, and quiet inits action.

In the present instance both of the cords 25 are formed integrally so asto extend along the bottom of the toe rail 22 as at 25', and upwardlythrough relatively large holes 21 (Fig. 5) in the toe rail into thespace between the cross rings 23 and 23". 'I'he cords pass through theslots 26 in the slats I6 to the supporting member 20.

It will be noted that by forming the two elevating cords 25 integrallyand passing the cord loosely'along the bottom of the toe rail andthrough the holes 21, the toe rail is readily adjustable to the desiredhorizontal position.

In accordance with the present invention the supporting means is in theform of a cylindrically shaped roller or rod which has axial supportingpins 30 and 3| projecting from its opposite ends and adapted to engagemounting brackets 32 and 33'secured to the window frame The pin 30 asherein shown ,is iixed non-rotatably in thel roller 20 and iscylindrical inform so as j to be rotatable in its bracket 32. The pinl3|is also non-rotatably secured to the roller'20, as by means of a nailportion 3| (Fig. 3) driven axially into the roller, and, if desired, asuitable decorative collar 3|" may be added about the pin 3| so as toassist the nail portion 3 in maintainingthe desired non-rotativerelation between the roller 2|) and the pin 3|. 'I'his projecting pin3|, however, has a non-circular form, such as the -square cross sectionherein shown, so as to engage a suitable complemental opening in anoperating element of its bracket 33, thereby to function in a manner tovbeI hereinafter explained in attaining the desired rotative or rockingmovement of the roller 20.

The elevating cords 25 are secured at their upper ends to the roller 20as by staples 34 so that in rotation of the roller 20 in a clockwisedirection (Fig. 4), the two cords will be wound simultaneously about theroller 20 so as to correspondingly elevate the blind.

To support the tapes in the desired operative relation to the roller 20so as to permit the necessary rotation of the roller in theblind-elevating or blind-lowering operation, the tapes are arranged toextend or loop over the top of the roller; and in attaining this end thepresent invention provides a novel mounting which prevents undue wear onthe tapes |1 as well as upon the cords 25. Thus the cross rung 23a whichis next above the cross rung supporting the uppermost slat |8 is placedor looped over the top of the roller 20'as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and .4',and this bearing tape or cross rung 23a serves to support the tape I1upon the roller 20. Since the roller 20 must rotate with respect to thebear- 'ing cross rungs 23a, the present invention provides bearing meansof simple construction between the cross rungs 23a. and the roller. Asherein shown, this-'bearing means for each cross rung', comprises acylindrical metal ring 40 of slightly greater vdiameter 'than the roller20, surrounding the roller 20 and having means such as outwardly slopingears 4| serving to position the-cross rung 23a laterally thereon. Bymeans such as a wire 43 ywound about the ears 4| overv the cross rung23a', the cross rung is held inplace onthe bearing ring. 'I'he bearingring 4B preferably has a width only slightly greater 'than one-half ofthe. width of the tape |1 so that the cord 2S may be wound on the roller20 prin-A cipally beneath the other half of the tape. This wound portionof the elevating cord is con- `pulley 41. like actuator such as abead-chain 48 is posicealed at least in part by the upper ends of theinner and outer bands I1' and I1" of the tapes, which bands are joinedtogether at |1'a (Fig. 2) over the top of the roller, as bymeans ofsewing the ends of the bands together. Preferably the joined upperendsof the bands are proportioned so as to extend loosely over the topof the roller, the weight of the blind, insofar as it is supported bythe tapes l1, being carried by the supporting cross rungs 23a. Thus thecords 25 may wind beneath the connected upper ends` 1a of the tapes, sothat the connected ends may serve as a concealing meanswithout causingundue wear upon either the tapes or the cords.

In accordance with the present invention the blind is actuated by meansembodied in its entirety and forming ya part of the bracket 33,

l and in the form illustrated comprisesa Worm and worm wheel gearing inwhich the worm wheel 45 is operatively associated with the non-circularstud or pin 3| of the roller 20, while the worm 46 has its shaft 46projecting horizontallyoutwardly from the'bracket 33 to receive anactuating V- Over the pulley 41 an endless belttioned so as to dependfrom the pulley 41 to a level within convenient reach of a person. l Aretaining* means such as a-yoke 49 may be provided, if desired, toprevent displacement of the bead chain.

The worm and worm wheel bracket 33 may be of many types, but, inaccordance with the present invention, is of such a. construction thatthe pin 3| may be operatively associated therewith by a simple endwiseinsertion intova corresponding shaped driving aperture such as thesquared central opening 50 formed in the exposed central portion of theworm wheel 45. It will be understood that the worm wheel 45 is rotatablysupported Within the bracket 33 so that the central portion of its sidesurfaces are exposed through openings 50' in the bracket 33. Variousgear ratios may also be employed in the worm' and worm wheel, the ratioof speed reduction between the-worm and the worm Wheel preferably beingas small as possible while maintaining a self-locking action suflicientto support or maintainghe" in the worm and worm wheel gearing will pro--duce satisfactory operation and is especially advantageous insofar assmoothness and accuracy of the tilting operation is concerned. If it isdesired to reduce the relative amount of actua- `tion required for theactuating chain 48, the reduction ratio of the worm and worm wheelgearing may -be made smaller, so long as the requisite self lockingcharacteristic is maintained, 0r a speed multiplying gearing may beinserted in the drive path between the actuatorpulley 41 and the worm46.l

In the use of the present construction it will be noted that anyactuating movement of the actuating chain 48 `is transmittedvimmediately to the tapes |1 to produce the desiredadjusting or tiltingmovement of the slats I6, despite the fact that the ladder tapes havebut a friction engagement with theroller 20; and that thetiltedjadjustment may be `varied in minute increments withoutunnecessary reversal or of movement of the actuating chain. Since. theactuation of the roller 20 may be relatively slow, there is no tendencyo1' the roller to slip within the frictionally related supporting cross23a, and

Because of the fact that the depending actuaring element vis ofthesingle endless belt type,

and since it is associated withjzhe permanently mounted bracket 33, theremoval of the blind for cleaning purposes or the like is renderedrelatively simple.A Thus, such' removal is accomplished by lifting the'end pin 3l from its supporting bracket, after which the released o rright hand end of the roller is moved outwardly tov a slight extent sothat`the roller may be shifted endwise away from the bracket 33 todisengage the drive pin 3| from the worm wheel I5. In replacing ororiginally mounting the blind, this easy and convenient operation isreversed.

Inorder that the wear upon the elevating cords may be minimized, and therange of tilting movement of the slats increased, the present inventionprovides slots 2li in the slats IG which extend relatively close to theedges of the slats. Thus the length of the slots 26 transversely of theslat 'is substantially more than one-half the slat width. Hence theelevating cords-25 extending downwardly from the outer edge of theroller ldo not interfere with the tilting movement of the slats in theobjectionable manner which would be encountered if the conventionalshort slots were employed. As a result, this novel slot formation andthe unitary tilting and elevating mechanism of the present inventioncooperate in producing a blind which is` economical in construction,simple and convenient in operation,

and capable of tilting movement to the desired fully closed positions.

In the use' of the present blind the slat tilting Y operation as Well asthe raising and lowering of the blind are accomplished by Vactuation ofthe single actuating loop member I8 which is suspended along one Y endportion of the blind.

When the slats are to be tilted, the achlating loop is pulled downwardlyon one side 'of its loop or the other so as to' rotate the supportingmember in one direction or the other in accordance with the desireddirection of tilting movement of the slats.

When the blind is to be raised or lowered, the actuating loop issimilarly operated to rotate the supporting member in such a directionas t0 wind the supporting cords on the supporting member in the eventthat the blind is toV be raised, or to unwind the cords if the blind isto be lowered. When the desired position of the lower edge of the blindis attained, the desired tilted angle of the slats is attained byappropriate manipulation of the actuating loop as hereinabove described.

I claim as my invention:

1. A Venetian blind comprising, in combination, a worm and wormwheelbracket adapted to be mounted at'one side of awindow frame, asecond supporting bracketv adapted to be mounted at the'other side ofsuch a frame, a supporting rod having one end adapted to ibe removablyassociated with said worm wheel to be supported and rotatably actuatedthereby, meansv at the other end of the rod adapted to support saidother end rotatably on said second bracket, means foractuating said wormand worm wheel to rotate said rod, and a blind structure comprisingslats; supporting ladder-tapes, a toe rail and elevating cords, saidblind structure having its ladder-tapes looped over and frictionallyassociated with said rod to support said Yblind structure and to -tiltsaid slats in response to rocking movement of said rod, and having itselevating cords attached to said rod to wind about said rod in rotationthereof and thereby elevate said blind.

2. A Venetian blind comprising, in combination, a plurality of slatshaving` supporting ladder-tapes associated therewith, said slats havingtransverse slots therein locatedat points within said ladder tapes. atoe rail associated withc said .tapes at their'lowevr ends, elevatingcords operatively associated with said toe rail and extending upwardlythrough said-slots and within said ladder-tapes, a singleroller elementto which the upper ends of said cords are attached to elevate said blindwhen said roller is rotated and over 'which upper portions of said tapesare4 looped in frictional relation to support said tapes for tiltingsaid slats whenI the roller is rotated while permitting rotation of saidroller for raising and lowering vof the blind, and nl eans for rotatablysupporting said roller including a bracket adapted to be mounted at oneside of avwindow frameto rotatably support one end of the roller, anendless belt-like actuator suspended from said bracket, and meansoperatively associating said actuator with said roller to rotate saidroller when said actuator has a belt-like actuating movement manuallyimparted thereto, and operable in the absence of such manual actuationof said actuator to lock said roller against movement by the ingupwardly through said slots andwithin said ladder-tapes, a. singleroller element to which the upper ends of said cords are attached toelevate said blind when said roller is rotated and over which upperportions of said tapes are looped in frictional relation to support saidtapes for tilting said slats when the roller is rotatedwhile permittingrotation of said roller for raising and lowering of the blind, and meansfor supporting said roller and actuating said blind comprising atrunnion projecting axially from one end of the roller, a non-circularconnecting element at the other end of said roller, a bracket memberadapted to be mounted adjacent one side of a window frame and having aself-locking gearing including a driving member driving a drivenrotatable member adapted to be engaged by said noncircular element in anaxial approaching movement of said roller so as to support and rotatethe adacent end of said roller* a second bracket adapted to receive androtatably support said trunnion after the mounting of the roller in said first bracket, and means for actuating said driv-- ing member.

4. A Venetian blind comprising, in combinaing movement of said rod, andhaving its' elevating cords attached to said rod to wind about said rodin rotation thereof and thereby elevate said blind structure,'a pair ofbrackets lfor' supporting said Vrod,.and actuating means permanently 15sociated therewith, said slats having transverse slots therein at pointsso spaced as to be located within said tapes, and said tapes having atoe rail operatively associated therewith at their lower ends, saidtapes being constructed of fabric to embody inner and outer bandsconnected by ladder cross rungs positioned alternately adjacent oppositeedges of the bands so as to provide a clear vertical passagetherebetween elevating cords operatively associated with said toe railand extending upwardly Vthroughsaid slotsA within said tapesand throughsaid passages, and

a single roller member to which 'said cords are attached to wind aboutsaid roller when thel roller is rotated and thereby elevate said blind,and over which the ladder cross -rungs next above the uppermost slat arelooped in frictional association so as to support saidtapes for tiltingof the slats when the roller is rocked while permitting the requisiterotation of the roller for raising and lowering of the blind.

7. A Venetian blind as dened in claim 6 wherein the upper ends of saidinner and outer v bands are joined so as to eirtend' loosely oversaidroller so as to permit free winding of said cords about the rollerbeneath and concealed by said jointed ends while avoiding thefunctioning of said joined ends .as a supporting means for said tapes.

` 8. In a Venetian blind, the combination o f a plurality of slatshaving supporting tapes associated therewith, said slats havingtransverse slots therein at points so spaced as to be located withinsaid tapes, and said tapes having a toe rail secured to their lowerends, said tapes being constructed of fabric to embody inner and outer4bands connected by ladder cross rungs positioned alternately adjacentopposite edges of the bands so as to denne a free and unobstructedvertical passage therebetween, elevating cords operatively associatedwith said toe rail and extending pwardly through said slots within saidtapes and through said passages. and a single roller member towhich saidcords are attached to wind about said roller when the roller is Vrotatedand thereby elevate said blind, over which upper portions of said tapesare looped-in frictional association so as to support said tapes fortilting of the slats when the roller is rocked while permitting therequisite rotation of the roller for raising and lowering of the blind.said slots being of a Alength substantially greater than one half thetransverse width of said slats whereby to provide a full range tiltingof tilting movement for said 9. A Venetian 'blind comprising, incombination, a plurality ofslats yhaving supporting tapes associatedtherewith, said slats having transverse slots therein at points sospaced as to be located and means for actuating said roller.

within said tapes, and said tapes having a toe rail located at theirlower ends, said tapes being constructed of fabric to embody inner andouter bands connected by ladder c ross rungs positioned alternatelyadjacent opposite edges of the bands so as to provide an upward passagethere'be` tween, elevating cords operatively associated with said toerail and extending upwardly through said slots within said tapes vandthrough said passages, a single roller member to which said cords areattached to wind about said roller when 1 the roller is rotated andthereby elevate said blind, and over which the ladder cross rungs nextabove the uppermost slat are looped in fric', tional association so astov constitute bearing ladder cross rungs supporting said tapes fortilting of the slats when the roller is rocked while permitting therequisite rotation of the roller for raising and lowering of the blind,and a bearying member loosely surrounding and bearing upon said rollerbeneath said each of said bearing cross rungs and operatively secured tosaid bearing cross rungs to act as a wear-resistant motion-transmittingmeans between the roller and said bearing cross rungs. 10. As Venetianblind as dened in claim 9 wherein said bearing rungs are of a widthsubstantially less than said tapes.

11. A Venetian blind comprising, in combination, a plurality of slats,ladder tapes associated with said slats to support the same, said slatshaving slots formed therein for the passage of elevating cords, a toerail associated with the lower endsv of said tapes, a roller over whichportions 'of the upper parts of said tapes are looped in frictionalrelation to the roller so as to tilt said slats when the roller isrocked, means supporting said roller for rotation, elevating cordsassociated at their upper ends with said roller so as to be woundaround. the roller when said roller is rotated, said elevating tapesextending downwardly through said slots, the lower ends of said toe railand being joined together beneath saidtoe rail so that the toe rail maybe adjusted to a horizontal position without disturbing the connectionbetween the cords and said roller,

12. A Venetian blind" comprising, in combination, a plurality of slats,ladder tapes associated with said slats to support the same, said slatshaving slots formed therein' :for the passage of elevating cords, a toerail vassociated with the lower ends'of said tapes, a roller over whichportions of Ythe upper parts of said tapes are looped in-i'rictional'relation to the roller so as to tilt said slats .when theroller is rocked, means supporting said roller 'for rotation, elevatingcords associated at their upper endswith said roller so. as tobe woundaround the roller when said roller is rotated, said elevating tapesextending downwardly through said slots, the lower ends oi.' `said cordsbeing joined together; and means on said' toe rail forming openingsthrough which said cords pass in av free slidable relation saidcordsbeing passed through openings in-

